Jto model



No; 749,428. PATENTBD JAN. 12, 1904. P. s. DUSENBURY &- H. MQKELLY.

MAIL OR LETTER BOX.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. 29. 1903.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

rm: "cams FUERS co. PNOTO-LITHQ, wnnmwou, o c,

PATBNTED JANQlZ, 1904. P. s. DUSENBURY & 1-1. M. KELLY. MAIL 0R LETTERBOX.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29. 1903 N0 MODEL. V 2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

nueniow aliboznug m: norms PU'ERS co-ynomumm WASHINGYQN, a c.

Patented January 12, 1904.

'- UNITED T T PATENT. OFFICE- PHILIP s. DUSENBURY AND HENRY M, I I Q LoF s f FRANCISCO, ican ronum a r a MAILQR LETTERMBOX."

ljlsracirionquoivror ia part of Letters Patent No. 749,428, datedJanuary 12, 1904..

l 2 3 A plication filed'April 29, 1903. SBI'ialNd. 154,868. (N0 modelL)l Ta a whomjit may concern? :Be it known that we, PHILIP S. DUSENBUR'Yand HENRY M. KELLY, citizens of the United Statesiresiding at SanFrancisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mail or Letter Boxes;and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it 3.1)".

and tosimplify construction and facilitate operation.

It consists of the combination of parts, including their constructionand arrangement, substantially as hereinafter more fully disclosed andspecifically pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment ofour invention, Figure 1 is a front view thereof. Fig. 2 is a sideelevation, and Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation. Fig. 4: is a likesection or view disclosing the operative parts in the position theyassume when depositing mail in the box.

In carrying into practice our invention we provide the usual closure orbox 1 for receiving or containing the mail, having preferably in itslower front portion the usual door 2 for the removal by the collector orother authorized person of the mail. To deflect or shed water, as ininclement weather, an inclined ledge or flange 10 is applied to said boxabove the door 2. Upon the upper end of said closure or box is suitablyhinged or pivoted a hood or cover 3, preferably curved. or arcuate incross section, said box or closure at its upper end also beingpreferably curved in correspondence with the curvature of said cover orhood and through the upper end of the box at its front isproducedtheletter-receiving slot or opening 4. Said cover or" hood hasits depending lateral portions 3 fitting or arranged exterio rly ofprising a plate fixed to and movable with the pivot or rod 3" and havinga forwardly curved or inclined upward extension with its upper endarranged contiguously to the inner surface of the top or upper endportion of said box, and thus adapted to guard the previouslydepositedmail or contents of the latter when the mail-receiving slot is exposed,as when the cover or hood is moved from over said slot, as againstaccess to said contents from that point via the upper part of said box.Said guard or valve, pivot, and hood or cover are thus also fixed withrelation to each other, and accordingly adapted to move together as saidcover or hood is actuated in depositing or putting mail into the closureor box. To said plate or guard at its rear side is suitably connectedone end of a spring 6, its upper end being likewise connected to theclosure or box 1 to provide for so actuating the cover or hood whenreleased after having been moved, as in exposing the letter-receivingslot, as to cause said cover or hood to automatically close said slot,and thus retain the same normally in such position. Also it will benoted that the relative arrangement of the cover or hood and the valveor guard is such that when said cover or hood is moved, as in exposingthe letter or mail receiving slot or opening, the lower edge or end ofsaid guard or valve will engage or contact with the front wall of theclosure or box, and thus prevent, as would otherwise be the case,possibility of access through that channel to the mail previouslydeposited in said closure or box.

An indicator or signal 7 is used to indicate to the collector the factthat the box or closure 1 contains mail for removal, comprising a staff7 carrying a suitable symbol or figure 7", as the representation of aflag, &c., and

pivoted at one end to the front of the box or closure, said symbol orsignal being raised to a vertical position by any one placing mail insaid box as an indication of that fact. Said signal is automaticallyretained in such vertical position by the action of a spring 8, securedto a bracket 8 on the box or closure 1, said spring being arranged insuch relation to the inner pivoted end of said staff as to be forciblyengaged by said end of said staif as the last named is raised, therecoil action of said spring thus exerted upon said staff effecting suchretention of said staff. Of course I the collector after removing themail from within said box and having a fixed relation to said hood orcover, said box having an offset projecting inwardly from the innersurface thereof, the lower edge or end of said valve or guard beingadapted to engage said ofl'set as said cover or hood is moved to exposethe mail or letter receiving slot of said box.

2. Amail or letter box embracing a pivoted hood or cover having pendentlateral portions external of said box, and said pendent portions havingfixed thereto a shaft carrying a guard or valve by the actuation ofwhich hood or cover said guard or valve will engage the front wall ofsaid box, and means for automatically returning said hood or cover toits initial position.

3. A mail or letter box having in its upper front portion, a letter ormail receiving slot or opening, a pivoted cover or hood adapted to closesaid slot or opening and having pendent lateral portions external ofsaid box and fixed to a shaft-bearing in the sides of said box andpassing therethrough, a valve or guard fixed'to said shaft and havingits upper extended edge arranged contiguously to the inner surface ofsaid upper end portion and its lower portion adapted to guard thecontents of said closure, and means adapted to hold said lower portionof said valve normally away from the closure front wall and toautomatically effect the return of said cover or hood to its initialposition, after the release of said cover.

4. A mail or letter box having in its upper front portion, a letter ormail receiving slot or opening, a pivoted cover or hood adapted to closesaid slot or opening, and having pendent lateral portions external ofsaid box and fixed to a shaft-bearing in the sides of said box andpassing therethrough, said box having an oifset projecting inwardly fromthe inner surface thereof, a valve or guard fixed to said shaft andhaving its upper extended edge arranged contiguously to the innersurface of said upper end portion, and its lower portion adapted tocontact with said offset, and means adapted to hold said lower portionof said valve normally away from the closure front wall and toautomatically effect the return of said cover or hood to its initialposition, after the release of said cover.

5. A mail or letter box embracing a closure having an upper curved endor portion, provided with the letter-receiving slot or opening, a hoodor cover conforming to the curvature of said upper end portion andhaving pendent lateral portions, external of said box and fixed to ashaft-bearing in the sides of said box and passing therethrough, and avalve or guard fixed to said shaft and having its upper edge adapted tomove in close proximity with the inner surface of said upper endportion, and its lower portion adapted to guard the contents of saidclosure, and a spring connected to said valve or guard and to saidclosure and adapted to hold said lower portion of said valve normallyaway from the front wall of said closure and to automatically cause saidcover or hood to cover the letter-receiving slot after the release ofsaid cover.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

PHILIP S. DUSENBURY. HENRY M, KELLY, Witnesses:

FRANK B. HOYT, HARRY L. HORN.

